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Back to School Survival Tips

If you have school age children, you may be thinking about how you’re going to get back into the swing of things when school starts. Back to school time can be exciting but let’s face it, also exhausting! Here are a few tips to get yourself (and your kiddos) organized and ready to face the school day.

Get on a school schedule a week or two in advance. Hearing that alarm go off at 6 a.m. when you’ve enjoyed sleeping in all summer can be brutal for you and your children. Try to ease back into it by setting your alarm a little earlier each day so when the first day of school rolls around, your body (and theirs) won’t be in shock. Also if the kids have been staying up later during the summer, re-establish the “school year” bedtime a week or so in advance.

Organize your kids homework area and talk about their after school routines now. Don’t wait until school starts to try and establish “the rules”. Even if you had the same routine last year, it’s good to talk about it before school starts and set clear expectations. If your kids have a designated homework area, make sure it’s ready to be used and if not think about a good place for them to be able to spread out and finish nightly assignments. Let your kids make it their own by adding some colorful accessories and wall decor.

Look up healthy, delicious after-school snacks and let your kids pick a few to try. Stock up your kitchen with the necessary ingredients. This way they have something yummy to look forward to when school starts and you are their superhero.

Make and freeze a few weeknight dinners ahead of time. When that inevitable “crunch” happens during the first week or two, you are already ready with a homemade dinner not fast food.

Designate an area for your kiddos’ backpacks and for school notices that need attention. There’s nothing that throws a morning routine off more than discovering that permission slip crumpled at the bottom of a backpack asking for $7.50 and due that day. Getting your children to take responsibility from a young age for their school communications will pay off in dividends later. Make sure backpacks are packed the night before and in their right place before bed.

If your child brings a lunch to school, let them help you pack it the night before. Younger kids love helping in the kitchen and will be more likely to finish their lunch that they helped prepare. Older kids and teens can take responsibility for packing their own lunch but might need reminding to get it done the night before.

When shopping for back to school supplies, remember printer ink and computer paper. Not something always on your list but if you have older kids there’ll be an essay or paper due before you know it that needs to be printed. There’s nothing worse than realizing you are out of ink or paper when it is 8 p.m.

Now it’s your turn. What are some of your back to school time saving tips?